"The final parting from a pet is a sorrow many feel they face alone. Is it appropriate to feel so sad for an animal? As cited in Goodbye, Friend, and written by Garrison Keillor, "If this is foolish, so it be." Since our companion animals are cherished family members in many a family, their loss is, of course, painful and even wrenching. In this beloved manual, Reverend Kowalski offers not just insight but also practical guidance -- on honoring your own grief and helping children with theirs; ideas for rituals, ceremonies, and solace; and considering death and the continuum of life. The book shows how to appreciate the life stages and needs of the pets he -- and readers -- know are anything but petty"--